John l



(No Model.)` y

J. L. SGHAFFERT.

EAVES TRUGH.

No. 274,893. Patented Mar.20,1883.

l l l l UNITED STATES gPaTnivr JOHN L. SOHAFFERT, OFVVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS MARTIN, OF SAME PLACE.

EAVESTROUGH.

l SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 274,393, dated Marcil 20, 1883.

Application filed J unuary 22, 1.883. (No model.)

To all wwm it may concern:

Beit known that I, JoHN L. Sonarrnnr, a p citizen ofthe United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have in- 5 vented new and useful Improvements in EavesvTroughs for Buildings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to providel a novel and efticient eaves trough or gutter 1o for buildings, which is so covered and protected as to prevent the accumulation of snow, leaves, and other dbris therein, and which is ot'such construction that it can be uncovered for the purpose of gaining free access to the i 5 same for any purpose, such as removing debris carried into it from the roof, or to permit the rays of the sun to fall directly therein to melt ice, if such should be formed.

The object of myinvention is accomplished in zo the manner hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in Which- Figure l represents a sectional perspective view of my invention applied to the eaves of 2 5 a building, the trough or gutter being covered; and Fig. 2 is an end view of the trough and cover, showing the roof in section, the cover of the trough being closed asin full lines and open as in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a detail view. 3o The trough or gutter 1 is ot' any usual or desirable construction, and is supported horizon` tally along the eaves by metallic orother brackets 2, which are constructed with a portion, 3, conforming to the under side of the trough 35 or gutter, and a shank, 4, secured to the roof by nails 5, or any. other fastening device found suitable for the purpose. As shown, the bracket is set in a slot, 6, provided in the edge 7 of the roof, in such manner that when 4o the brackets and trough are in position the edge of the roof will project over the trough Vor gutter; but this mode of applying the snpporting-brackets is not indispensable, it being, however, desirable in order to insure all drip- 45 pings being caught by the trough. The outer edge, 8, of the trough is further sustained by a brace-bar, 9, riveted or otherwise secured at one end to the outer end of the bracket, as at 10, and at the other end attached to the 5o bracket, as at 11, in any suitable manner. To

the outer longitudinal edge of the trough or gutter is hinged or pivoted a cover, 12, preferably of a shape conforming to the trough or gutter, the inner free edge of said cover resting in grooves 13, formed in metallic blocks 5 5 14, which are provided with a stud, 15, passed through an opening in the shank ofthe bracket and riveted in place. Several or all of the supporting-brackets are provided with these blocks, upon which the inner edge of the cover 6o rests in such manner that the longitudinal edge of the cover is supported away from the building to permit the free passage of Water from the roof to the trough. The cover is confined in its closed position to protect the 6 5 trough by a pivoted hook, 1G, adapted to engage an aperture, 17, in one or more ot' the blocks 14.

The `hinged connection of the two sections comprising my improved eaves-trough is pref- 7o erably of such construction that the cover, when thrown open, will not fall clear around, but will be sustained in position, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2, so as to be within conveuient reach when it is desirable to close it. 5

The blocks 14 need not necessarilyT be at? tached tothe brackets, as they could be secured to the roof or even to the edge of the cover it self, and, if found suitable, these blocks could be dispensed with and the edge ofthe cover rest 8o upon the brackets, Which, projecting slightly above the plane ot' the root', would sustain the edgeI of the cover away from the roof', and provide a space for the passage of the water to the trough. S5

It' desired, the cover can be secured in its closed position by fastening devices other than the pivoted hooks. The trough and cover may be of any form in cross-section suitable for the conditions required. The cover can be made 9o in sections, so that one section can be opened independently ofthe others; and, finally, the two sections could be, hinged together along their longitudinal edges instead of their outer edges, as here shown.

The cover-section of the trough will usually be made of sheet metal-such as tinand will be interiorly braced by arched plates 18, and the Whole will constitute a strong and durable structure, providing an eaves-trough which 1ro can be entirely covered and protected to prevent the accumulation therein of snow and leaves, except as such pass down the roof under the edges ofthe cover, which latter can be readily thrown open to uncover the trough for the purpose of cleaning the same.

An eaves-trough has heretofore been provided with afixed covering; but so far as I am aware an eaves-trough has never been composed of two sections hinged or pivoted together along their longitudinal edges, as hereinbefore described.

It will of course be obvious that the hinged section will cover and protect the upper end of the usual downspout to prevent its being clogged up by an accumulation of leaves or other dbris.

Having thus described my invention, what I y J. L. soHAFFER'r.

Witnesses:

J AMES L. NoRRrs, J. A. RUTHERFORD. 

